People who are obese pay almost 50 percent more in health care expenses than those at a healthy weight, the Weight-control Information Network reports. That's because being obese greatly increases your chances of suffering from chronic diseases like kidney disease, macular degeneration and stroke. Losing even 5 percent of your weight can significantly reduce your risk of developing these obesity-related complications. Many diets include many bland tasting foods. Fortunately, a number of diets offer delicious meals along with serious weight-loss results.
Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean diet is rich in taste bud friendly foods such as cheese, red wine, nuts and extra virgin olive oil. According to Iris Shai of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, the Mediterranean diet is a better weight loss option than a low-fat diet. In research published in the July 2008 issue of the "New England Journal of Medicine" Shai and his colleagues compared the effects of a low-fat diet with the Mediterranean diet on a group of 300 obese people over the course of two years. At the end of the two-year trial, the Mediterranean diet group lost and kept off about 10 lb. of weight -- nearly twice that of the low-fat diet group.
Low Carb Diet
Imagine eating tasty foods such as steak, chicken, fish, butter and oil and still lose significant amounts of weight. The only catch is that you have to limit the amount of carbohydrates that you eat. According to an October 2004 study published in the "Annals of Internal Medicine," this trade off results in dramatic weight loss. In the study, researchers put a group of 60 overweight adults on a low-carb, high-protein diet or a low-fat diet based on the National Cholesterol Education Program. The low-carb dieters lost nearly 14 lb. in only 12 weeks -- 6 lb. more than the low-fat group. The low-carb dieters reported higher satisfaction with the diet, suggesting that they enjoyed the food included in the diet.
Paleolithic Diet
The paleolithic diet is an eating plan based on the foods that were available to our hunter-gatherer ancestors. It excludes grains, candy and dairy products; however, it allows almost unlimited quantities of delicious foods such as beef, seafood and fresh fruits. According to James O'Keefe, M.D., of the Corvallis Clinic, following a diet with paleolithic elements can contribute to significant weight loss. In research published in the January 2004 issue of "Mayo Clinic Proceedings," O'Keefe states that following a "paleo" diet is more enjoyable than many other weight loss programs because it includes many palatable foods.
References
- WIN: Statistics
- "New England Journal of Medicine": Weight Loss with a Low-Carbohydrate, Mediterranean, or Low-Fat Diet
- "Archives of Internal Medicine": The National Cholesterol Education Program Diet vs a Diet Lower in Carbohydrates and Higher in Protein and Monounsaturated Fat
- "Mayo Clinic Proceedings"; Cardiovascular disease resulting from a diet and lifestyle at odds wih our Paleolithic genome: how to become a 21st-century hunter-gatherer
Member Comments